Part Seven: Ehsaas
Adi's Shop
"Shaantanu sub kaam samajh mein agaaya?" Adi asked after reviewing some usual policies of the store with Shaantanu. They had discussed the details the day before but Adi was refreshing his memory so that his first day at work goes smoothly.
"Jee bilqual... Main apni puri kohshish karoonga kay app kay customers ko hameesha satisfied rakho…" Shaantanu replied with confidence as Adi smiled at his eagerness. He was trying really hard and Adi appreciated that in him.
"Vaise mujhay tumhare smiley face aur bright personality per acha khaasa bharoosa hain…coustomers aises sales man ko zayaada prefer karte hain…"
"Thank You…yeh job meray liye bahut important hain aur main puri kohshish karoonga kay app ko kabhi complaint ka koi reason nahi do…" Shaantanu assured him with his sincerity and Adi si simply smiled back at him before getting busy with his accounts.
The store was busy like usual, customers came in and out consistently as both Adi and Shaantanu dealt with their demands and needs. Every customer had their own set of taste in traditional clothing, depending on the style, type, and the color most people found almost exactly what they had been looking for. The one thing that made Adi great at his work was his personal concern with what people wanted. He would always keep up with latest styles yet had enough to accommodate his usual customers with what they preferred, even if he had to keep the old stock in his basement. Shaantanu kept things going smoothly as his happy go lucky nature gave frustrated and tired shoppers a reason to smile.
"Shaan mujhay kuch dair kay liye bahir jaana hain…behn ko university se pick kar ke ghar choor na hain…tum sambhal lo gay?" Adi asked grabbing his halmet and bike keys as Shaantanu folded huge fabric rolls on the shelves.
"Sure…abhi toh rush kafi slow hogaya hain…I think thodi dair kay liye main akele manage kar loon ga…" Shaantanu replied adjusting the fabric stand, he was already getting good at flipping and folding the huge fabric piles without messing up the counted folds.
"Theek hain…phir main bus ayaa…" Adi said heading out the door leaving Shaantanu responsible for the shop as he went to pick up Khanak from University.
Khanak was waiting outside the gate for Adi to pick her up. She could have easily walked home from here; it was only a five minute walk but Adi being the protective brother wouldn't allow her to walk home alone even in broad day light. Manali was a small and safe town but when it came to Khanak and her safety Adi was unwilling to take any chances.
"Bahiyaa finally! Kub se wait kar rahi thi…" Khanak complained as Adi pulled up in front of her and she settled herself on the backseat of her brother's bike.
"Kyun? Main toh time per he aaya hoon…" Adi replied as he sensed Khanak's eagerness, she was quite upset this morning but now she seemed unusually happy.
"Nahi yunhi…mujhay ajj ghar jaane ki kuch zaayada jaldi hain…actually app ki shop per bhi jaana tha…" Khanak informed Adi about her plans.
"Shop per? Shopping karni hain kya Chutki…vaise kuch naye designs ajj he aaye hain, tum khud aake apni pasand se lay lena…" Adi didn't mind Khanak's idea of coming by the shop as it wasn't unsual for her to drop in every once in a while.
Sometimes she would shop but she would mostly go by to observe the coustomers and their interactions with eachother. She loved watching people shop, especially when the coustomers ranged from newly married honeymoon couples to old mother-in-laws fixing a huge wordrobe for the newly arrived bride.
"Theek hain…toh main jaldi se kuch acha sa bana ke shop per he lay aati hoon…snack ya phir dinner…?" Khanak suggested knowing that Shaantanu too hadn't eaten anything all day.
"Haan jaisa tumhay theek lagay Chutki…actually Shaantany bhi shop per hain, jo kuch bhi lao kuch zaayaada he laana…ussay lunch ka bhi nahi poocha maine…" Adi told Khanak as they reached home and Khanak searched for her keys in her school bag.
"Jee Bahiyaa…maine bhi dekhna hain app ka yeh replacement kaam acha bhi karta hain ya yunhi…"
"Chutki, tum koi badmaashi nahi karo gi…voh acha khaasa kaam per focus kar raha hain aur tum apni sharaarat se uss ka kaam bilqual nahi bigaro gi samjhi…tumhari university mein student hain tum se pura badla le ga, aur tum bacho ki fights mein mujhay apna employee kohnay ka koi shauq nahi hain .." Adi told his kid sister as he knew of her playful intentions very well. Mohit and Khanak shared a good rapport; afterall Khanak had a majot role in getting Mohit matched up with Sonia Bhabhi who used to be a regular customer at the shop. It was in Khanak's nature to be friendly and Adi was well aware of it.
"Bahiyaa main toh yunhi keh rahi thi…you are the boss, jaisa app kahay ge voh vaisa he karay ga, he is your employee aur main toh apki Chutki ko, just an observer…" Khanak assured Adi and ran inside the house to prepare something good to take with her so that they could all eat together. She could hardly wait for her evening plans to unfold as her excitement could hardly be contained in her wide smile and bright eyes.
Mumbai: Khandelwal House
Madhavi and Khushboo came back from a Sangeet function of one of Madhavi's friend's daughter. It was quite an evening for the two ladies as the Sangeet was held at a grand scale with splendid arrangement. Madhavi and Khsboo went to wish the bride's family on this eventful day but didn't stay long as neither one could over come their sadness due to their family's current situation at home. The distraction that they were looking for in the Sangeet was not good enough for them to foget their depression over Shaantanu's absence. Nothing was good enough to make them forget.
"Acha function tha na Mom? " Khusboo asked as they both sat on the living room couch, taking off their heavy jewelry.
"Haan…bahut khush thi Sunita…usski ek hi beti hain na iss liye itna grand function host kiya tha…kitni complete aur happy family hain Sunita ki…I hope aik din humari family bhi yunhi complete ho…" Madhavi's tone was back to being gloomy and Khusboo could easily detect her mother-in-law's discomfort.
"Mom app kyun itni sad ho jati hain…app jaanti hain na Shaan "hate tears"…voh yahaan hota toh kehta kay yeh melodrama serials mein acha lagta hain, usski Mom kay beautiful face per nahi…"Khusboo tried to cheer her up by impersonating Shaan's tone. It was funny enough for Madhavi to give a small smile to Khusboo's efforts.
"Khusboo tum Shaan ko miss nahi karti?"
"Ofcourse Mom main apne devar ko bahut miss karti hoon… Akshay aur main dono ussay miss karte hain…raat ko bhi uski stupid baatein yaad karte huye sote hain…but Mom app ko Daadi ki baat per yakeen karna hoga…voh hameesha kehti hain kay Shaantanu unka sub se pyaara grandson hain aur aik din voh yahaan hum sub ke pass vapis aayega…phir humari family bhi complete aur happy hogi…Sunita Aunty jaisi…" Khusboo reassured Madhavi and hoped against all odds that her prediction would be proven right before Madhavi's condition worsened.
Evening in Manali
Shaantanu and Adi were getting ready to close the shop as it was a weekday and they were not expecting any late night shoppers. Adi kept glancing at the door because he was waiting for Khanak to show up, it was starting to get dark out and he wondered what kept khanak occupied as he thought she would show up soon after he dropped her off at the house.
"Okay Sir app ki closing ka saara kaam hogaya…aur kuch?" Shaan asked looking around the store which looked cleaned and set for the next morning.
"Nahi Shaantanu…aaj kay liye itna kaam kaafi hain…tumne kuch zaayda he kardiya, mera bus accounts ka kaam reh gaya hain jo main karlo ga…"Adi informed Shaantanu but kept looking back at the front door during their conversation.
"Aap wait kar rahay hain kissi ka?" Shaantanu inquired as Adi turned to him.
"Haan…actually… voh tum ne kuch kahya?" Adi completely switched the topics not sure how he should answer Shaantanu so he just asked him a question instead.
"Nahi..voh Kaam mein busy tha, bhook ka kuch pata nahi chala..." Shaan lied nervously as in reality he was starving but didn't have enough money in his pockets to buy himself proper dinner.
Adi was about to bid Shaantanu good night but the front door chimed in as Khanak made her enterance with two large tiffins and water bottle. She looked over whelmed carrying all that but her adorable smile caught both men's attention quickly, specifically Shaantanu's who was taken by surprise yet again. Adi went forward to help her as Shaantanu mainted his distance not sure how or why Khanak had showed up here. How come she was always there when he thought of her? He kept wondering but had no answer.
"Shaantanu abb tumhay bhook lagi ho ya nahi, as a Boss yeh mera order hain kay tum humare saath dinner karo..meri Chutki, mera matlab meri behn bahut acha khaana banati hain…five star ka khaana bhool jao gay…" Adi invited him as he and Khanak laid out the tiffin on the small table right in the center of the shop. Shaantanu was waching Khanak who was making funny faces at him over Adi's shoulder. He couldn't refuse even if he wanted to.
Shaantanu, Adi, and Khanak pulled up chairs from the corners of the store and shared a delicious meal together. Khanak had prepared her specialty Kadhai Paneer, Onion Rice, and some healthy Daal to along with the plain rice. It was light and home-made food that Shaantanu had forgotten all about. It reminded him of his Daadi's food which was prepapred upon his special request almost every week. Living in a busy city like Mumbai left no time for family dinners but Daadi would always make something special for Shaantanu whenever she could. Madhavi and Khusboo helped her out in the kitchen on those speccial days but could never get their taste to match up to traditional way of cooking Inidan cusine.
"Shaantanu please achay se kaahna lena…tumhay ajj lunch pe bhi nahi jaane diya maine…"Adi looked over at Shaantanu who was savouring every bit of Khanank's hand made food slowly.
"Jee…Thank you, itnay achay kahne ko main achay se he khao ga, if you don't mind boss!" Shaantanu smiled as Adi passed him one of bowls from his side.
"Vaise Bahiyaa theek rahay ga "Boss" kafi ajeeb lagta hain…" Adi advised as Khanak paused and looked up at Adi, surprised at his openess. Adi was not the type of person who would let just anyone call him by that title, his kind gesture was touching.
Shaantanu looked up at Adi with immense respect for him in his eyes; he thanked him sincerely for his kindness. "Thank you Boss...I mean Bahiyaa…!" Shaantanu corrected himself as Khanak laughed at his nervousness; it was quite obvious on his perfectly featured face.
"Bahiyaa itna acha hain kya app ka yeh Mr.Salesperson…? itna bharoosa kar rahay hain, koi khass baat?" Khanak whispered to Adi but Shaantanu could hear her clearly, her eyes had that teasing look in them, she wanted him to hear her comment but didn't want to make it obvious.
"Chutki tum kahnay kay waqt kahne per focus karo aur ulti seedhi baatein choor do…" Adi warned her quietly, Shaantanu was loved the brother sister interaction that the two shared.
"Vaise Shaantanu tum bhi Khanak ki University mein jaate ho na…dekha toh hoga isse pehlay?" Adi asked Shaantanu casually while Khanak waited for his response.
"Acha? Yeh bhi Manali University mein jaati hain…Actually classes kay baad zayaada dair University mein nahi rehta…app kya major kar rahai hain?" Shaantanu decided to give Khanak a taste of her own medicine by suprising her with his answer. She was looking at him with shocked expressions but had to maintain her composure in front of Adi.
"Jee Creative Writing, concentrating on Poetry mostly…Sir Shekhar ko toh jaante hain na app?" Khanak went along with his little game and asked him about Sir Shekhar casually.
"Of course! The famousSir Shekhar ko kuan nahi jaanta… I think meri life kay best professor hain…"
Shaantanu would have continued on with his admiration if the shop's phone in the back room hadn't gone off. Adi excused himself to attend the call, allowing Shaantanu and Khanak to talk to about their Univeristy and similar interests like Sir Shekhar. He was oblivious of their game and had no idea that they were simply teasing one another. As Adi disappeared into the back room for his call Shaantanu and Khanak were left alone to bicker.
"Acha! toh abb app mujhay nahi jaante…?"
"Nahi…main app ko bilqual nahi jaanta…" He leaned in a bit closer on the table as he rested his elbows on it and looked at Khanak properly for the first time since she came in the store. Khanak's superficial anger evaporated the minute he laid his eyes on her.
"Theek hain toh phir main bhi nahi jaanti app ko… jaye main app se nahi baat karti…!" She was smiling while saying all this, still continuing on with their little game without the right expressions.
"Vaise kaahna bahut acha baana leti ho tum…jaanti ho pichlay 3 haftoon se maine kaahna theek se nahi kahya... per ajj jub kahya toh saari bhook gayab hogaye…jadoo jaisi…" Shaantanu complimented her and she felt accomplished but when he said "3 haftoon se" she got worried for him.
"Teen haftoon se! Shaantanu app apna khayaal nahi rakh saktey…kitne lambe hotey hain teen hafte…mujhay bata diya hota main…" She would have gone on and on but Shaantanu's index finger stopped her lips from moving any further. The first time he had touched her intentionally, the first physical contanct that he made was in this moment.
"Meri zaroorat se zaayda parwa karnay kay liye Thanks…aur aggar mujhay pehlay pata hota kay itna acha kaahna mille ga toh zaroor aata tumhare pass…" Shaantanu said in his softest tone and then gently removed his finger form her soft lips. Khanak was left spell bounded, she kept staring at him.
"Shaantanu! meri accounts ki book front se la do gay please!" Adi called out from the back room breaking Shaantanu and Khanak's eye lock. Shaantanu gave Khanak a warm smile before he got up to fetch Adi's account book for him. Khanak's eyes followed his figure as he went to Adi with his book.
Khanak realized that she was staring at Shaantanu and quickly composed herself by cleaning up the tiffin boxes and placing them back in the little basket she had brought them in. She still had one more special thing to share on her menu, the dessert that took a lot of effort to make but was finally done. Khanak took out the box which held Ras Malai and waited for Adi and Shaantanu to return back to the tiny table in the center of the store. From the distant chatter it sounded like Adi was caught up with some important client's call. She waited patiently until the gentlemen returned from the back room.
"Chutki chalo humein abhi ghar jaana hain…Mumbai se Raichand Sir ka phone aaya tha voh naye stock kay barey mein kuch details discuss karna charahay hain…Mumbai ki shop per sahi stock nahi poocha…ghar per doosri file mein saarey records hain issi liye humein jaldi jaana hoga…" Adi said in a rushed tone as he looked for his keys and halmet in the front. Shaantanu was standing to the side so that he doesn't get in the way.
"Theek hain bahiyaa app bike start karay main yeh samaan utha loo…" Khanak stood up a bit disappointed at the fact that she won't get to share her Ras Malai with Shaantanu but knew that Adi had an important call to attend.
Shaantanu came forward to help her with the baskets as Adi headed out the store with his keys and halmet. He had already closed down the store before Khanak showed up, all Shaantanu needed to do was lock the door with the set of duplicate keys that Adi had given him.
"Khanak voh box bhi toh rakho jo table per rakha hua hain…" Shaantanu pointed at the box of Ras Malai that was set on the table.
" Nahi…voh app ka hain…" Kahank decided to leave him with the sweet dish that she made especially for him.
"Khanak lakin main such mein kahana paet bhar ke kah chuka hoon…" Shaantanu said putting the box in her basket but she took it out and handed it back to him.
"Jaanti hoon per yeh meetha hain aur meetha kahaane ki category mein nahi aata…I hope aapko pasand aye ga." Khanak smiled as she picked up her basket and turned towards the front door of the store.
"Khanak…suno…" Shaantanu called out to him and her steps halted at once. She didn't turn around but stood still in her place. Shaantanu smiled knowing her timid nature and without going near her he told her of his plans for the next morning.
"Kal main morning class start hone se pehlay University ajao ga…Sir Shekhar se tumne jo promise kiya hain voh pura nahi kiya toh dono ki shaamat aye gi…hum vahi mille gay jahaan tum aksar jaati ho…lake ke pass."
"Theek hain main app ka intezaar karo ge…" Khanak said in her softest tone and then rushed out the store; trying hard to not smile too widely as Adi was waiting for her.
Shaantanu watched her and Adi took off from the huge glass windows and then stepped out to lock the doors of the store so that he could head back to the hotel where he was staying. He held the dessert box in his hand with care as he walked to the hotel and couldn't get himself to control a strange happy feeling that he felt whenever he was with Khanak. She was the first girl who made him feel this way, in Mumbai he had several girls who would deliberately find reasons to be with him but today it was Shaantanu Khandelwal trying to think of reasons to meet up with Khanak Mathur.
Later that same night, Khanak looked out her room's window and gazed at the full moon that gleamed against the picth black darkness of this cold night. She wondered if Shaantanu liked the Ras Malai she had made. As much as she wanted to watch him eat in front of her and give her expressive feedback, she didn't mind asking him the next morning when they would see each other again. Khanak smiled at the serenity of the cool atmosphere, she loved the feel of fresh breeze on her skin. Her mind would have kept her up all night in Shaantanu's thoughts, but she decided to catch up on her sleep as she knew she had a beautiful morning to look forward to.
***************************
P.S: Here it is for your entertainment...Finally their feelings are slowly developing...I know its dragging but that's the fun part because it builds up the needed intensity in the story...I hope you are enjoying it...Thanks for commenting...You have no idea how much it means to mean and i keep saying that but it truly is my sole motivation to continue on with this...Please let me know what YOU think...you guys are my critics and I trust my critics to tell me what they like and what they don't. Love you! Have fun reading...! Will Update Soon!
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
